Sheeaune, Westport
The death recently occurred of Maudie Murphy (nee Duffy), Sheeaune, Westport, She was born on of July 1, 1920, the only daughter of Annie Berry Letterbrock, Drummin and Thomas Duffy, Tavanagh. She was wife of the late Thomas Murphy, sister to PJ Duffy, Tavanagh and Tommie Duffy, Toronto, both deceased. After primary school in Cogaula she attended the Sacred Heart School in Westport. She walked the six mile round trip each day until she completed her Leaving Cert with honours in 1939. As was the norm in those days, she did all her studies through the medium of Irish and developed a great love for the language that remained with her throughout her life. She regularly, even in her latter days whilst chatting, would include the cupla focal in the conversation. She married Thomas Murphy in 1943 and they enjoyed 56 happy years together. They set up home together in Sheeaune, raising their family and running the farm. Maudie was a woman who displayed great talent both inside and outside the home. She dedicated many hours to needle and craftwork skills, whilst excelling in lace crochet, she was also accomplished in knitting, dress-making and tapestry. During her evenings and leisure time she was rarely seen without a craft project in her hands. Needlework of any sort were to her worth a try, the skills she was blessed with were both a pleasure and a utility. She produced some fabulous labours of love over the years, ranging from bed spreads to tapestries. The completion of these works gave manifestation to her artistic abilities, and of course gave her great personal satisfaction once completed. The majority of her works were welcome gifts for her family and others, many of which are today treasured family heirlooms. Maudie marvelled at Mother Nature in its many and varied forms and had a passion for flowers and plants. Throughout her life she tended and enjoyed her flower garden which always blossomed gloriously with variety and colour. She loved to receive new plant cuttings or seeds from friends and delighted when she successfully got a new variety to thrive in the garden. She possessed a positive outlook on life and her home was always welcoming to the many visitors who came to enjoy her company. Her hallmark hearty laugh will undoubtedly be a fond memory for many. The great friendship of her neighbours and friends was testament to her kind, helpful and outgoing nature.As with many of her generation her faith played a very important part in her life and provided great inspiration in bad times and good. She particularly enjoyed her annual pilgrimage to Knock. Faith was always to her more than ritual alone, it also manifested itself in her social conscience where she invariably sympathised with the less fortunate and always questioned the inequalities of the modern world. She was waked in her home and evening prayers were recited by An tAthair Micheál Mac Greil S.J., Removal took place from St Aidan’s Room, Islandeady to the adjoining St Patrick’s Church and remains were received by Fr. Chas Guthrie. Her requiem Mass was celebrated by An tAthair Micheál concelebrated by Fr. Guthrie on Holy Family Sunday. During his beautiful homily An tAthair Micheál alluded to the feast day and said it was an appropriate day to celebrate her requiem as Maudie was an exemplary family woman who unquestionably dedicated her life to her family.The offertory gifts included her Leaving Certificate from 1939 and a christening robe and altar cloth. Maudie is survived by her daughters Della Jennings, Anne Cuddy, Meta McGreal, Mary Ruane and Noeleen Clancy, her two sons, Toddie and John Murphy, her seventeen surviving grandchildren and seven great- grandchildren, sons- in- law, daughter-in-law, cousins, relatives, kind neighbours, Godchildren and many friends.She was predeceased by her granddaughter Bernadette and her son-in-law Ambrose Jennings.She was laid to rest in Kilmaclasser cemetery and an tAthair MacGréil said the graveside prayers. Ní imithe uainn ach imithe rómhainn. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dhílis.

Month’s Mind Mass will be celebrated in St. Patrick’s Church, Islandeady, on Sunday, January 27, at 11am.